Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

for his steadfast love endures forever,

to him who alone does great wonders,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the sun to rule over the day,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1-10

Last night, as I read through various news sites, I came upon a slide-show of the sun’s recent activity and the warning that we will be affected by the coronal mass ejection headed straight for earth.  Sounds rather terrifying, but there’s absolutely nothing we can do.  It is the sun, after all.

With each click and new slide, my mind and spirit began to marvel.What is that? I mean, I know it’s the sun, I understand the physics and chemistry fueling the sun, but isn’t it AMAZING?!  The sun has been burning millions of years, ruling the day. And it contains energy enough to keep it burning for millions more years.  I cannot fathom that kind of endurance. August in Alabama only reminds me how I cannot stand its heat. My eyes cannot even bear to look at it. It is no mystery why ancient peoples bowed in worship of the sun: it provides warmth, light, and life to earth.

What they did not know, but we can know from the revelation of His word and Spirit, is that God commands the sun and that even the sun sings praise to its Creator.

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Psalm 148:3-6

What a glorious God! He is the One who created the sun, who sustains the sun, who suspends the sun in its place…the One who willed the sun with a word…
the One who offers His sun as a mere picture of His glory and power.  What is more…more terrifying than the power of the sun…is that a Day is coming when God will darken all points of light in the sky.  Not only do the Scriptures tell that God will cover the sun and moon and stars so that they do not shine, but they describe God’s glory in such a way that even the brightness of the sun is dark in comparison.

I cannot even imagine it and I tremble at the thought.  Were I not sure of His grace, justice and mercy meeting perfectly at the cross of Jesus (for sinners like me), I would despair.  Instead, by His grace, the sun also becomes a picture to me of his steadfast love and faithfulness.  Such never-ending love makes it possible for me to look forward to the day when the dwelling place of God is with man, when there is no need for sun or moon because the glory of God gives light, when I will see the glorious face of the One who died for me.

(photos from NASA, SDO)